Reg Withers
Lord Mayor of Perth | |
---|---|
In office 1991–1994 | |
Preceded by | Chas Hopkins |
Succeeded by | Peter Nattrass |
Personal details | |
Born | Reginald Greive Withers 26 October 1924 Bunbury, Western Australia |
Died | 15 November 2014 (aged 90) Perth, Western Australia |
Political party | Liberal Party of Australia |
Alma mater | University of Western Australia |
Profession | Solicitor, barrister |
Military service | |
Allegiance | Australia |
Branch/service | Royal Australian Navy |
Years of service | 1942–1946 |
Unit | HMAS Leeuwin |
Reginald Greive Withers (26 October 1924 – 15 November 2014) was a long-serving member of the
Early life
Withers was born in
Career
Returning to Bunbury to practise law, first as a solicitor and, from 1953, a barrister, Withers was elected to Bunbury Municipal Council and began to involve himself in Liberal Party affairs, serving at various times as Liberal Party State President and Vice-President and Federal Vice-President.[2]
Withers entered the Senate on 17 February 1966 to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Senator Sir Shane Paltridge, but lost his seat at the special Senate election later that year, before being re-elected in 1967, returning to the Senate in 1968.[3]
Described as having a "jovial manner and perpetual grin", Withers quickly gained a reputation as the Liberal numbers man and served as Senate Government Whip from 1969–71. After the defeat of the McMahon government in 1972, Withers became Opposition Leader in the Senate, where he retained a thin majority and acted to block much of the Whitlam Government's legislation. Withers was widely known as "The Toecutter" for his alleged approach to enforcing party loyalty and his role in the 1975 Australian constitutional crisis.
After the dismissal of the Whitlam government on 11 November 1975, Withers was appointed to
Later career
Withers was appointed a
Having served as President of the WA Liberal Party from 1961 to 1965, Withers made an unsuccessful attempt to return to this position in 1995
Death
Withers died in Perth, Western Australia, on 15 November 2014, aged 90.[9]
References
- ^ "Alumni – 1950s". University of Western Australia. Archived from the original on 13 July 2009. Retrieved 3 April 2009.
- ISBN 1-86287-101-9.
- ^ Hough, David; Walsh, Kay (2017). "WITHERS, Reginald Greive (1924–2014)". The Biographical Dictionary of the Australian Senate. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
- ^ "Ministerial Resignations and Dismissals Since 1901". australianpolitics.com. Retrieved 3 April 2009.
- ^ National Archives of Australia: Background to the 1978 Cabinet records. Retrieved 19 November 2014
- ISBN 0-86840-601-5.
- ^ Flint, David (27 May 2006). "Australia's first republican movement". norepublic.com.au. Retrieved 3 April 2009.
- ^ "ParlInfo - Allan Rocher resigns from the Liberal Party".
- ^ "Former Perth lord mayor and Senator Reg Withers dies at 90". ABC News. 18 November 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2014.